#15 Ferris State Tips Off Season With Win Over #13 Pittsburg State In Missouri

Big Rapids, Mich. - The preseason nationally 15th-ranked Ferris State University women's basketball squad tipped off the 2024-25 campaign with a big win as FSU topped 13th-ranked Pittsburg State (Kan.) by a 74-64 score on Saturday (Nov. 2) in the season opener in St. Joseph, Mo.

The Bulldogs returned to the St. Joseph Civic Center, where they ended last season in the national semifinals, and scored an impressive win in the opening day of play at the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Tipoff Classic.

The Gorillas jumped out in front 22-18 after the first period, but FSU outscored Pitt State by a 19-9 margin in the second period to take a six-point halftime lead. The advantage was trimmed in half at the end of the third by PSU, but Ferris State closed the game with a 21-14 edge in the final period to open the year with a win.

Four of FSU's five starters reached double-figure scoring with senior guard Kenzie Bowers totaling a game-high 19 points on six-of-11 shooting, including three-of-four from long range. Senior guard Kadyn Blanchard added 17 points while Mia Riley came up with 13 points and forward Mya Hiram finished with 10 points on the inside.

Ferris State shot 41% for the afternoon and made eight-of-20 (40%) three's along with 16-of-18 (88.9%) free throws. FSU was out rebounded by a 45-34 count, but FSU did force 20 turnovers and came up with 12 steals, including three by junior Elle Irwin and two apiece from Bowers along with junior Emma Schierbeek and freshman Mara Mitchell.

Blanchard paced FSU on the glass with nine rebounds in the game while Bowers, Irwin and sophomore Claire Erickson all had six for the Bulldogs.

Pittsburg State finished with a 36.4% shooting figure and the Gorillas made 12-of-13 (92.3%) free throws, but only four-of-21 (19.0%) three's. Karenna Gerber paced PSU with 14 points and Macie Mays added 11 points in the setback.

The Bulldogs will close out the D2CCA Tipoff Classic on Sunday (Nov. 3) against Central Missouri starting at 2:30 p.m. (ET) in St. Joseph.